File: 970903_oct1_0021.txt
Page: 0021
Total Pages: 106

NBC Defense

(U) c. Recommendations

(U) 2. Issue - Warning and Rel>orting

(S) a. Discussion

(S) Early warning alarms were a major raission of command operations in SWA.
Their main purpose was to alert personnel of the 'unnu'nent danger from Scud missiles
and air raids. A secondary role was to pass the alarm for chemical agent attack. Alarm
and warning systems in the Marine Corps sector were primarily assigned to NBC
specialists.

(S) In the rear areas, an elaborate satellite early waming/alarm system was
established and orchestrated by the CENTCOM Rear Area Operations Center (PAOC) in
Riyadh. When Scuds were detected at launch the Riyadh RAOC was capable, initially,
of automatically activating the Federal Alarm systems in place throughout Saudi Arabia.
In the Marine Corps sector, CINCCENT early warning was tied directly to the I MEF
P,AOC manned by ist Surveillance Reconnaissance Integration Group (SPJG) NBC
personnel at Camp S. The early warning system was tied into the Port of Jubayl COC,.
operated by Ist FSSG, and the 3rd MAW COC, at Jubayl Naval Air Station.
(S) For training, I MEF exercised Emergency Action Procedures (EAP) for Scud
n-dssile attacks, similar to fire drills. The effectiveness of these drills is unknown. When
the air war began and the Iraqi's fired scuds at Saudi Arabia, too many alarms were
false. in one noted case the early warning system alerted all bases throughout SWA
when, in fact, scuds were heading toward Israel. 2 1 In addition, alarm drills were
continued even though the offensive had beguil

2@MCCLS tape # 1058 @ww OEM
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